Folding ax



Aug. 19, 1924.

J. R. PALM FOLDING AX Filed Dec. 10, 1923 Z Z/l/l/ld all" Patented Aug. 19, 1924..

JOHN aionAnnrALM, or's'rqcLo'un, MINNESOTA.

. rroLnnve AX. 1.

Application filed December 10, 1923. Serial No. 679,687.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN R. PALM, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Cloud, in the county of Stearns and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Folding AX, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has reference to ax construction, the primary object of the invention being to provide a novel form of ax wherein the blade thereof may be readily folded to a position to house the cutting edge of the blade to guard the cutting edge thereof.

Another important object of the invention is to provide means for locking the blade in both its active and inactive positions, eliminating any possibility of the blade moving after it has been adjusted.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a novel form of handle construction to render the ax cheap to manufacture and at the same time provide a handle which will act as a housing.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arran ement of arts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an ax constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken on line 4:4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmental View disclosing the upper portion of the blade and portion of the handle to which the blade is pivotally I secured. V Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 designates the handle portion of the aX which embodies a length of sheet metal bent intermediate its. side edges'as clearly shown by Figurel ofthe drawing, portions of the material being cut away at 6, to provide an opening for the fingers of the person using the ax to enable him to properly grip the handle.

The forward end of the handle is curved as at 7 and provided with openings to re ceive the pivot member 8 which is formed with heads 9 to secure'the pivot member 8 within the openings; This pivot member 8 provides a support for the blade 10 which is also mounted between the curved portions 7 to hold the blade against lateral movement with respect to the handle.

inwardly extended flanges llare formed on the handle portion and provide an abutment for the blade 10, the blade being provided with a shoulder 12 to engage the abutment and restrict movement of the blade, relieving the pivot member 8 of undue strain while the device is. in use. From the foregoing it will be seen that due to this construction, the blade 10 may be I swung from a position as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, to a position as indicated in dotted lines whereupon the blade is housed by the-handle portion and guarded.

In order that the blade 10 will be held in its active position when adjusted, a spring arm13 is provided, which arm is secured to the handle by means of rivets 14, the forward end of the arm having an offset portion 15 adapted to fall down behind one edge of the blade 10 and hold the blade against movement.

The blade 10 is formed with a shoulder 16 adapted to engage one edge of the arm 13 when the blade is moved to its inactive position, thereby eliminating any possibility of the blade accidentally falling to its active position.

Whenit is desired to move the blade 10 from a position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawing, to its active position, it is only necessary to move the arm 13 out of contact with the blade 10 whereupon the blade may be swung to a position within the handle.

I claim:

In a tool, a handle portion including a length of sheet metal bent intermediate its side edges to provide overlying portions, a

springarm having an offset portion at its free end, means extending through the spring arm and overlying portions of the handle to secure the spring arm and overlying portions together, inwardly extended fianges forming a part of the handle, a blade pivotally supported between the overlying sections of the handle at a point adjacent to one end thereof, said blade having a shoulder to engage the flanges and restrict movement thereof, and said offset portion of the spring arm adapted to engage one 

